ST. LOUIS – For the fifth time in six years, the Missouri Baptist University men's lacrosse team kicked off its season opener with a win. On Saturday, the Spartans coasted to an 11-4 victory over NCAA DIII Fontbonne University played at Clayton High School's Gay Field.
 
Missouri Baptist, which was receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Top 10 Poll, wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as the Spartans found the back of just 1 minute and 13 seconds into the contest. Sophomore attacker Jaxon Haas was credited with the first goal of the game and likewise the first goal of the season. Josh Zion, who missed the 2018 season due to injury, didn't skip a beat scoring MBU's next goal at the 9:38 mark to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Senior Andy Coulter assisted in both of the goals.
 
Fontbonne closed the gap momentarily, however, Missouri Baptist answered with back-to-back goals from Jaxon Haas and Ian Olenski before the end of the period. At the first break, the Spartans had a comfortable 4-1 lead over the Griffins.
 
The Spartans added two more goals before halftime with Zion scoring his second of the game and Andy Coulter punching in his first goal. MBU led Fontbonne 6-2 at halftime.
 
After increasing the margin to six following Ian Olenski and Sean Hess goals, the Griffins made one last ditch effort. They scored back-to-back goals for the first time in the game, but it was too little too late. The Spartans found the back of the net three more times, including two on man-up opportunities.
 
As a team, MBU won in all facets of the game on Saturday. The Spartans had 24 shots on goal to Fontbonne's 7, 8 turnovers compared to FU's 14, a 10-9 advantage in face offs and a 25-21 advantage in ground balls.
 
In Hunter Filla's debut as goalie, the senior out of Marquette High School made three saves and got his first career win.
 
Four Spartans had multi-goal games to open the 2019 campaign. Josh Zion led the Spartans in goals with three, while Andy Coulter picked up where he left off last year with a career-high four assists to go along with a pair of goals. Jaxon Haas and Ian Olenski both had two goals apiece.